Chapter VIII
Church Separate from World
In the Scriptures, you know that the Church is called the body of
Christ,42 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Christ is the head of the Church.43 Colossians
1:18 Is not the Church, Christ in the world? But Christ taught a
separation of Church and State. Christ says, "I am not of this world."44 John
8:23
This world is darkness. "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye
light in the Lord: walk as children of light."45 Ephesians 5:8 Now
let's imagine a blackboard. That blackboard represents the dark world
without any white marks upon it. When Christ came into the world,
the light shone into the world. From Galilee there was the word of
the prophet: "The people which sat in darkness saw a great light."46 Isaiah
9:2 Imagine a white line on the blackboard that represent the line
between the darkness and the light. On one side is the light. Here
is where Christ is. On the other side is the dark world. Now He says
His kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of God is the kingdom
of light and of glory. He is the King there.
Now on which side of that line is the Church? - Wherever Christ is.
For we found that He is the Church; the Church is Himself in the world.
Here in the light is the Church, over there in the darkness are the
States, the governments that are altogether of this world. No government
that ever was on the earth will enter heaven.
He had "all of these kingdoms of the world"47 Matthew 4:8 offered
to Him. Why didn't He accept that offer, and thus become the head,
of all the governments and kingdoms of this world? Then He could manipulate
them, and by political means "regenerate society," "redeem cities,"
reform the mayors, governors, presidents, kings, and emperors, and
thus "save" the world? Why not? Because that would have only confirmed
the world in eternal ruin.
Christ did not accept the kingdoms of the world. He could not do so.
He was offered the governorship, the possession of all the kingdoms
of the world. He would not have it. But lo, here we find these church
leaders in our day actually grasping for it, and working to obtain
it. If all Christians from the day of Christ until now had refused
the kingdoms of the world, as Christ did, could there have been a
papacy? No. Could there have been an image? Impossible. Where are
Christians to stand on that question? Where Christ stood, refusing
to have anything to do with the kingdoms of the world.
The church leaders are working to "regenerate the city," "redeem the
State," and "save the nation" in the interests of society and for
the exaltation of the church. And they say, If this clear-cut line
that separates Church and State is maintained, what will become of
civilization? How is the Church to influence the world? They argue
that the church certainly is in the world to do good to the world.
Here are these cities, states, and nations that are corrupt. The Church
must have some influence upon them. If she is to be completely separated
from them, how is she to influence them in any way for good? These
are the queries they raise, and the arguments which they make against
a clear-cut line of separation of Church and State.
The answer is that only by totally separating from the world,48 2
Corinthians 6:17 can the Church ever influence the world for good.
The Church will influence the world, it will influence kingdoms,
it will influence nations, and the peoples thereof, when, and
only when, it is faithfully the Church of Christ; and is not
of the world even as He is not of the world. When the Church is not
faithful, she will influence the world - that is true - but only
to their undoing.
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